Boston

Boston's population increased by about 8,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 65,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Boston increased by 15.9%, from almost 55,800 to 64,600.

The addition of almost 8,900 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the East Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Boston was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Boston

Latest census data also show that the median age of Boston remained 42 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 2,600 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years.

About 13.0% of people in Boston are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Boston saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Boston said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 17.1% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.6% to 2.4%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of people working long hours occurred in Isles of Scilly (from 19.1% to 12.2%) followed by South Holland (from 20.9% to 14.6%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

Long hour working in Boston decreased by 6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Boston, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Boston residents that were unemployed increased from 2.8% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 52.2% in 2001. The percentage of Boston residents that were self-employed decreased from 8.4% to 8.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Boston increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Boston, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with children

Boston saw the East Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (27.7%) households in Boston had at least one dependent child, compared with 26.5% in 2001. The percentage with no children decreased from 64.5% to 63.7%.

Across the region, Derby saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with children (from 29.8% in 2001 to 30.8% in 2011).

During this period, Boston went from having the 33rd-highest to the 13th-lowest percentage of households with children out of 309 English local authority areas.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Boston

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Boston was among those who said they had no religion, rising 8.9 points.

In 2011, 20.3% of respondents in Boston gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 11.4% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 15.6% to 27.2%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Boston, 71.1% said they were Christian, compared with 80.2% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 7.4% to 7.0%.

In Boston, 7.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.4% in 2001. In East Midlands, 6.8% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Boston increased by 8.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East Midlands and Boston by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Boston

Boston saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (49.5%) people aged 16 and over in Boston said they were married, compared with 55.5% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23.8% to 29.2%.

Across the region, only Lincoln (from 44.4% to 36.6%) and South Holland (from 59.6% to 53.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53.4% to 48.5%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

Boston saw the East Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.1%) households in Boston had only one person, compared with 28.8% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 9.0% to 10.5%.

Across the region, only Leicester (from 32.6% to 30.0%) and Nottingham (from 37.5% to 36.2%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Boston that rented privately increased from 7.3% to 15.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in six (18.2%) households lived in social housing, compared with 19.9% in 2001. The percentage of Boston households that owned their home decreased from 69.6% to 63.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 14.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Boston increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Boston, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Boston

The percentage of Boston residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Boston residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.6% to 6.1%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (which remained close to 89.1%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Boston residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.7% to 6.0% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64.6% in 2001. The percentage of Boston residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25.6% to 15.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Boston decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Boston, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Boston

In 2011, 96.8% of Boston residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.5% in 2001.

Across the East Midlands, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 93.2% to 88.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.4% of people in Boston said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.8% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.4%.

the population from one of the White ethnic groups in Boston decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Boston residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.4% to 2.7% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Boston remained close to 2.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Boston by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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